Search Website

Search Directory

A to Z

You are here

Local Food

At a ceremony held on campus today, the University of Vermont announced it was only the fifth school in the nation, and the first large university east of California, to sign on to a program launched last fall called the Real Food Campus Commitment. UVM students were instrumental in advocating for UVM’s participation.

By signing the commitment, UVM pledges to serve 20 percent “real food” at all its campus food outlets by 2020. Real food is defined as that which is locally grown, fair trade, of low environmental impact and/or humanely produced.

Permaculture is a regenerative strategy that restores ecosystem health through sustanable and mindful design. Large green areas on campus should be used to create native, edible landscapes that will supply dining services and students with a local and organic food source. This will reduce our reliance on fuel for food transportation, serve as an educational medium, and involve the UVM community with the source of the food they consume. Compost from campus facilities could be kept on campus and be used to build and maintain soil health for the permaculture plots.